At the time it simply seemed like a good
idea. Allow the software code to be readily available on the internet for
other colleagues and software engineers to review and improve.

In doing so, Linus Torvalds, the initial
author behind the Linux operating system, used a method of collaborative
software development that began to change the face of the entire IT world.

But this concept of collaborative
development of code open to all, today loosely termed Open Source, had its foundations rooted in many other
precedents as well, including the GNU project (dating back to 1984 and
dedicated to the creation of a free operating system and
applications).

What we can see in the increasing expansion of Linux use is a validation that experts from around
the world can indeed collaboratively create software, which is both sound and viable.

What is unique in today's reality is that
in many ways the innovations and the community teamwork that exists around
Linux dramatically distinguishes itself from the very model of development used
to create Vista.

Instead of a massive shop of thousands of
developers working frantically to meet marketing deadlines and business goals,
Linux software development is highly diversified, numerically greater and
contextually faster. When an innovative engineer devises an improvement, that
solution will be available to others around the world nearly instantly.

The marketing for Vista touts 5 years in development. Ironically, the method for development of Open Source
software may be more economically viable than such long cycle OS development in the new global market.

Today, Linux is used across many large
enterprise initiatives with substantial benefit. Similarly, countless new
software projects have since derived their source for inspiration and
innovation from the software community at large, who contribute their talents
and experience collectively. What makes all of this possible is the premise
that when the software code is made available openly it becomes a catalyst for
innovation and mutual exchange.

"when the software code is made available openly it becomes a catalyst for
innovation"

The software becomes a tool that is not
restricted and can be freely shared and adapted (customisation at its easiest)
to specific needs. While at the same time the enhancements and many creative
and pioneering iterations are given back in a way resulting in a continual
cycle of improvement and enhancement. People who contribute gain by having the
ability to also utilise the software code that countless other experts also
helped create.

Open Source software development had not
only changed the perspective many have had regarding the methodology for large
scale collaboration, it has substantially increased the mutual relationships
between people across cultural and national boundaries. The collaborative
spirit is a key ingredient in the success of Open Source.

As a result, where there might have remained
a selective few applications that could address specific software needs, such
as business tools including spreadsheets, mail servers, etc. Now there are
actually hundreds of thousands of options, customised versions and uniquely
tailored choices.

Where customisation and localisation were
once the bane of software development teams, today the burden is lifted when
teams in a specific country or region localise the Open Source code for
themselves and then share it back to the original project. The Tamil localised
version of Linux is an example. In India substantial localisation efforts at a regional level are generating
more language and dialect specific versions faster than any one single software
company could have ever implemented.

The Key Distinction
Perhaps the key distinction with Open
Source and Windows Vista is that so many of the Open Source projects either are
or derived their roots from highly skilled developers writing code on their own
time. People motivated not by a paycheck but by something less tangible but
perhaps more valuable.

This is an area few of the marketing men
can understand. But the motivations are a signifier that the Open Source
revolution is not simply a hobbyist endeavour but a serious reflection on what
software development and the industry as a whole is changing into.

To the World
What the premise behind Open Source
provided was not only a unique economically viable method for solving software
development costs, it spun off unique methods by which international and cross
cultural collaborative projects could take place.

There are numerous Open Source projects
that are dedicated to creation of collaborative tools to help further the
viability of Open Source. From web content and learning management systems to
powerful collaborative tools such as various wiki and blogging software, Open
Source has an expansive array of tools to help perpetuate further communication
and development.

The result is overt. Where just over one
decade ago, Linux was a newly devised operating system that few had heard of
let alone used, today Linux runs significant systems for many large enterprises including: Google.com,
IBM and Oracle, Novell, Amazon.com, Walmart, ILM, and thousands of other organisations.

Perhaps it is now with the dawn of Windows Vista, that we can most effectively see the world wide radiance of the Open Source revolution.

This brief opinion piece should not be construed as factual information. It contains the opinions and personal experiences of the author at the time of publication. However, the opinions and personal experiences that have been posted do not necessarily express the opinions of Reallylinux.com. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. IBM is the registered trademark of International Business Machines. Microsoft, Microsoft Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation both in the United States and Internationally. MS is used in certain cases to further denote Microsoft Corporation. RedHat is the registered trademark for RedHat Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks in this opinion piece belong to their respective owners.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft, Windows Vista, Vista are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United Statest and Internationally. All other trademarks or registered trademarks in this opinion piece belong to their respective owners.

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Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
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Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks on this entire
web site are owned by their respective companies. This
site is not related or affiliated with any other sites.